The 14th of March was marked by an event of importance to the present and future of bilateral academic ties as well as Sri Lanka studies in Russia. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to Russia H. E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, accompanied by Madame Sanja Jayatilleka, was warmly welcomed at the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS) of the prestigious Moscow State University, the oldest and largest multidisciplinary university of Russia.
ISAA is the longest-established higher education institution specialized on Asian and African studies. The Institute was officially established in 1956, however, it has inherited the long-standing traditions of Russia’s oriental studies dating back to early XIX century. Today, IAAS curriculum and research programs cover Political Studies focused on Afro-Asia, Asian Language studies with renascent Sinhala language program, first in 30 years, and studies of modern and contemporary history of Indo-Pacific where Sri Lankan studies have continued for decades. IAAS graduates include Presidential Spokesman Alexey Peskov, Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov (overseeing Sri Lanka as part of the Indo-Pacific), former Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alexandre Karchava and a number of other influential Government dignitaries, prominent business persons and leaders of policy thinktanks.
During the visit, H. E. the Ambassador met with Dr. Igor I. Abylgaziev, acting Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies and Head of the IAAS Chair of Political Science as well as Prof. Alexandra L. Safronova, Head of the Chair of South Asian History and key expert in Sri Lanka’s history at IAAS, Dr. Natalia S. Kuleshova, Deputy Director of the Institute and Deputy Head of Chair of Political Science, Dr. Boris A. Zakharyin, Head of Chair of Indian Philology, Dr. Boris M. Volkhonsky, Assistant Professor, Chair of Indian Philology. The Institute was also represented by Dr. Lyudmila V. Khokhlova, leading professor of South Asian linguistics, Dr. Anna V. Bochkovskaya, leading professor of South African history, and Prof. Alexey A. Vigasin, leading professor at the South Asian History Chair.
Ambassador Jayatilleka and the acting Director of the MSU Institute of Asian and African Studies talked about the relations that had existed between the USSR and Sri Lanka in the 1970s-1980s, as both officials crossed paths at the International Festival of Youth and Students in 1985. H. E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and Dr. Igor I. Abylgaziev also touched upon the issues of the modern world order, having come to a mutual agreement that there should be exchange of experiences not only between regions, but continents, so that countries could “join efforts towards ensuring peace in the world”.
Further, Dr. Igor I. Abylgaziev pointed out the importance of the role that shall be played by the young generation in the development of the Sri Lanka-Russia cooperation, who would “create a new era of friendship between the two counties”. He also assured H. E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka of the readiness of the Institute of Asian and African Studies and the Lomonosov Moscow State University on the whole to cooperate with Sri Lankan universities on the subject of exchange of students, thus contributing to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Russia.
Ambassador Jayatilleka, in his turn, underscored the significance of preservation of the prestigious image of Russian higher education, so that high performing Sri Lankan students could become more familiarized with the world-class level of academic programs, taught at the leading Russian universities.
After the meeting with senior representatives of the MSU Institute of Asian and African Studies, H. E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka delivered a lecture that was attended not only by IAAS students, but also by those from other top universities of Russia, including the Higher School of Economics. The auditorium was filled with students, many of whom were standing for the entirety of the lecture.
In his lecture, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary focused on three main subjects: the problem of the “New Cold War” from the vantage point of Asia and Afro-Asia, the problem of terrorism, and the Sri Lankan experience in dealing with secessionists’ movements and ways of resolving conflicts within a multi-ethnic state.
The lecture was warmly received by the audience, and questions were asked, demonstrating the keen interest of the Russian audience and academic circles for Sri Lanka and what it has to say to the world.
